Kindergarten Class Promotes Positive Friendships

Glenville School celebrates "Be A Friend" event

"Today we are celebrating friendship at Glenville School," said Joanne Riley, Kindergarten Teacher.

We all know it's feels good to have a friend, but sometimes we forget just how important it really is. In honor of "Be A Friend" day, each grade at Glenville School planned fun, engaging activities to promote a safe and nurturing learning environment.

"Kindergarten through Fifth grade at Glenville, Math, Reading, Writing, all of our subjects are very important, but one of the essential things in which all of the teachers teach at Glenville is getting along with your friends, being a community, cooperating with each other, and in order to do well in all of the subjects you need the essential ingredient of being good friends, and respecting others, and following the Glenville School norms," said Riley.

After reading a book about friendship, Kindergarten students shared how they would fill a bucket with compliments to foster friendship.

According to students in Ms. Riley's class, you could fill a bucket by "caring for self and others," once could "cheer up somebody when they are hurt," "share toys," or even give "someone a piece of art."

The students then worked in partners to conduct friendship interviews and were surprised but excited to share how much they learned about one another.

Henry expressed that he knew his partner Sal's favorite color was green but he was surprised to learn that his favorite food was pizza!

The "Be Here, Be A Friend" event was coordinated by a group of GPS mental health professionals to promote positive relationships across schools.